Recently I have been expressing myself through art, photography and I guess to another extend the cloths I don (I believe fashion is art we wear).

I drew what has now taken the name “time traveling fish”, to convey what was going on in my head, visually to the rest of the world.

I am writing today to reveal I am looking forward to exploring my creativity further, as well as to give credit to my influences.

In the months following my European travels, I have become increasingly interested in surrealism, devouring images from my favourite surrealist Dali, in addition to re-watching episodes of The Mighty Boosh.

My main muse for recent bouts of artistic creativity has come from my travels themselfs. I absolutely loved the street art coating the walls of the cities I visited, as well as the more traditional art galleries and religious buildings I have soaked in. I was particularly impressed by the Pompidou, a modern art gallery in Paris. The trip was crammed with art everywhere I turned, it was inescapable and awesome.

Before my travels I had been experimenting with photography and have been fascinated with how I can capture the world as I see it, sharing my outlook with others. I continue to this day playing around with angles, lines and symmetry that jump out at me, capturing all the beauty as well as the crap-ness I see in the world.

Below I have combined my photography and editing skills with some of the street art I passed along the way with my backpack, for my view of the walls of Western Europe, street art style.

We have signed up for some fancy pants company to keep track of all the TV programs we watch as a family, online and through digital television. The data will be used towards national statistics, deciding what shows will receive more funding etc. (well that’s my understanding of it, they really are watching me, it’s not paranoia!)

As well as a reduction in the amount of pornos I will consume, it has also meant a man has had to install the monitoring technology in my room. Having a stranger in and amongst all my stuff makes me feel uncomfortable.

It was worth the discomfort to hear the instillation guy comment that my room was “the most retro room” he had visited. (I rightly or wrongly take that as a compliment :p).

Today I have decided to let all you all to take around the room where all the magic happens, my OCD World.

Virtually rifle through my stuff, and dislodge from your heads the idea that every person with OCD keeps things in symmetrical order.

Welcome to quite literally my OCD World

It’s late at night. I’m restless with more energy than the Duracell bunny. I feel like I could run non-stop from Milan to Barcelona, however I’d like to spend my new years with friends in the UK.

I settle for an artsy night, making book marks from old magazines, and Photoshop editing snaps from my last backpacking adventure.

I find it helps, and really centres me, to focus on one task at a time in short bursts. This evening I play around with photos I have taken from the art galleries to the streets of Western Europe.

I have received complements from friends on my photography skills. It is rewarding to do something people acknowledge you are good at. Revisiting the snaps I have taken reminds me I am creative, skilled and have something to contribute to the world.

This evening I offer my view of the architecture, art and my surroundings on the journey between Milan and Barcelona via Marseille.

feel free to click on the images below to enlarge them . . .

. . . and before I forget, all the best for the new year.

Holidays are coming, which means everything is crazy. Unfortunately, the result is, the already nutty get a double dose.

Below: My photos from when the Coca Cola truck visited my home town of Chester.

I have had a manic burst of energy which has resulted in a large handful of nights and days without any sleep. My Creativity rocketed, as the sieve protecting my brain from every piece of information in the universe, melted away. Unfortunately, with the parcel of creativity, I got unwanted deliveries of paranoia, hallucinations and a full blown episode of psychosis.

As I shaked waiting for my forty winks (to be honest I would have settled for just one wink thank you very much), I ploughed my excess bags of energy into poetry, jewellery making, photography and my rediscovery of fine art.

I’m sure these outlets will feature in future blog posts, but for now I’d like to share some of my snaps capturing this season through my eyes.

Above: Some of the photos taken on the Wednesday photography group I attend, as well as a winter walk I shared with my Dad.  At times I was afraid for my self and others, therefore I couldn't leave the house. I continually battled with my psychotic thoughts, and forced myself to leave the front door as fast as I could.

Below: A collection of photos I shall call "the un-usual suspects". As I ventured further out of the house, I attended my friend Kara's birthday (Fuck You OCD). The theme was black and white. As the girls painted nails and talked about work, the lad cave was filled the sound of guitar as a replica gun was banded around.

Did I mention the fact I made my own jewelry. Yes, yes I did. Below is an example of one chain.

Merry Christmas and all the best for the new year to everyone of my blog readers. I look forward to another year sharing my thoughts with you.

Christmas Chris xXxXx